The Jetsetters Journal

Pick a month

When to go: 17 places, month by monthThe whole year at a glance

At their best in November

Europe

Asia

Indian Ocean and Africa

Middle East and the Americas

Every hotel we shortlist170 hotels, one listFilter by place, by what each hotel is best for, and by the judges behind it.Browse all hotels

How the Shortlists work · How we choose

Attainable luxury

The splurges worth it once, priced.

Suites, villas, first class, a private jet, a catamaran and a watch: what each really costs and how to try it first.

See all 6

Journeys

When to go: 17 places, month by monthThe Shortlists

The dining car of the Orient Express

Rail · 5 trains

Luxury train journeys

Five great trains, from the Orient Express to the Andes.

Read the guide
The Colosseum lit up at night

Cities · 1 perfect day

One day in Rome

Sunrise to midnight: the walk, the tasting menus and a view of St Peter's.

Read the guide
Overwater villas on a Maldives lagoon

Islands · 12 months

The Maldives, month by month

When the sea is glass, when the mantas come, and when the price halves.

Read the guide
Wildebeest crossing the Mara River

Wild · Jul to Oct

The Great Migration

Where two million animals will be, and where you should be waiting.

Read the guide
The Grand Canal in Venice at the end of the line

Rail · London to Venice

The Orient Express

When it runs, what each cabin costs, and the best month to board.

Read the guide
An aircraft wing against a dusk sky

Flights · Door to door

Emirates business class

From the car at your door in London to the lights of Dubai, in ten moments.

Read the guide
A travel watch with a deep blue dial resting on a sunlit wooden deck

Attainable luxury · Watches

The best travel watch, six ways

Six watches you could actually buy, most with a second time zone for the flight home. UK prices, what each is worth second-hand, and the one that is worth more used than new.

Klickors Moe, Unsplash

The short answer

Which travel watch to buy

Prices checked 18 October 2026

The best travel watch for most people is the Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT (£4,110): a true GMT, 39mm, water resistant to 200m. Below it, the Longines Spirit Zulu Time (£2,900) does the same job. Above it, the Grand Seiko Sport GMT (£6,100), the Cartier Santos (£7,250), the Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer (£9,400) and the Rolex GMT-Master II (£9,850).

Why a GMT for travel: a second hour hand runs on a 24-hour scale, so you can read home time and local time at a glance. On a "true" GMT, the local hour hand jumps on its own when you land, without stopping the watch.

Prices below are UK retail prices as listed on 18 October 2026, with the retailer named next to each one. Second-hand values are in US dollars from WatchCharts, compared with US retail, so the difference is like for like.

Planning the trip around it? Start with the best hotels in Dubai and our guide to business class on Emirates.

Buy new

From a UK retailer

From £2,900, with the full warranty

  • Every price here is a UK retailer's listed price.
  • Some models are scarce; ask the retailer.
  • No VAT refund for visitors since 2021.
See the six

Buy second-hand

Most cost less used

Up to 37% under US retail, on our four

  • Three of the four we checked sell for less used.
  • The Rolex sells for about 45% more.
  • Buy from a dealer who checks the papers.
See second-hand values

The shortlist

Six watches, from £2,900

  1. 01Longines Spirit Zulu Time39mm, steel£2,900
  2. 02Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT39mm, steel£4,110
  3. 03Grand Seiko Sport GMT44.2mm, steel£6,100
  4. 04Cartier Santos de Cartier35.1 x 41.9mm, steel£7,250
  5. 05Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer43mm, steel£9,400
  6. 06Rolex GMT-Master II40mm, Oystersteel£9,850

Photos are illustrative, not the watches named.

  1. A pilot-style watch with a black dial on a man's wrist

    Illustrative, not this one Nima Izadi, Unsplash

01 · Longines, Switzerland

Longines Spirit Zulu Time

39mm version, 2023

Case
39mm, steel
Water
100m
Movement
L844.4 automatic, 72 hours, true GMT
UK price
£2,900

"a more approachable sized GMT"

Worn & Wound, June 2023

The entry ticket to a proper travel watch. A true GMT, so the local hour hand jumps on its own, with three days of power reserve: take it off on Friday and it is still running on Monday.

Skip it if you want a name that turns heads. It is a tool watch, and looks it.

Where to buy it

Beaverbrooks lists it at £2,900; it was out of stock on 18 October 2026, so ask about delivery.

Sources: Beaverbrooks: Longines Spirit Zulu Time 39mm · SJX: Longines Spirit Zulu Time 39mm (June 2023) · Worn & Wound: Spirit Zulu Time 39mm (June 2023)

  1. A watch on a man's wrist against a dark knitted sleeve

    Illustrative, not this one Andreas Bentele, Unsplash

02 · Tudor, Switzerland

Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT

Ref. M7939G1A0NRU

Case
39mm, steel
Water
200m
Movement
MT5450-U automatic, 65 hours, true GMT
UK price
£4,110

"It is really that good."

Monochrome, May 2024

Our pick for most people. A certified chronometer GMT at 39mm, water resistant to 200m, from Rolex's sister brand. Monochrome says it can do everything an active owner wants.

Skip it if you plan to sell it on. Second-hand it trades about 24% under US retail.

Where to buy it

Beaverbrooks lists it at £4,110, in stock on 18 October 2026.

Sources: Beaverbrooks: Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT · Monochrome: Black Bay 58 GMT review (May 2024) · WatchCharts: Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT (October 2026)

  1. A watch with a white chronograph dial on a man's wrist, dark suit sleeve

    Illustrative, not this one Andreas Bentele, Unsplash

03 · Grand Seiko, Japan

Grand Seiko Sport GMT

Ref. SBGJ237

Case
44.2mm, steel
Water
200m
Movement
9S86 Hi-Beat automatic, 55 hours, GMT
UK price
£6,100

"crossing time zones while traveling is the new normal."

Monochrome, June 2020

The watch lover's choice. A Japanese Hi-Beat movement in a 200m sports case, made for crossing time zones, says Monochrome.

Skip it if you have slim wrists. At 44.2mm it is the largest watch here.

Where to buy it

Jura Watches lists it at £6,100; stock is by request, so call before you travel.

Sources: Jura Watches: Grand Seiko SBGJ237 · Monochrome: Grand Seiko Sport GMT review (June 2020)

  1. A dress watch on a man's wrist, white shirt cuff and dark jacket

    Illustrative, not this one Gilles De Muynck, Unsplash

04 · Cartier, France

Cartier Santos de Cartier

Medium, ref. WSSA0029

Case
35.1 x 41.9mm, steel
Water
100m
Movement
1847 MC automatic, no GMT
UK price
£7,250

"a matter of wrist size, not wallet size"

Monochrome, August 2019

The style choice, and the one here without a second time zone. A square icon that works with a suit or a swimsuit; Monochrome's advice is to choose the size for your wrist, not your budget.

Skip it if you need home time on the dial. Cartier makes a Santos Dual Time, which we have not priced.

Where to buy it

Lunn's lists it at £7,250.

Sources: Lunn's: Cartier Santos WSSA0029 · Monochrome: the medium Santos (August 2019) · WatchCharts: Cartier Santos Medium WSSA0029 (October 2026)

  1. A watch on a leather strap resting on a dark rock, wisps of smoke around it

    Illustrative, not this one fatemeh zakeri, Unsplash

05 · Omega, Switzerland

Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer

Ref. 220.10.43.22.03.001

Case
43mm, steel
Water
150m
Movement
8938 automatic, 60 hours, worldtimer
UK price
£9,400

"somehow casual with a hint of elegance."

Monochrome, May 2019

For people who live across many time zones, not two. A worldtimer shows the time in every zone at once, from a Master Chronometer movement.

Skip it if you mainly fly between two places. A GMT does that more simply, for less.

Where to buy it

Beaverbrooks lists it at £9,400, in stock on 18 October 2026.

Sources: Beaverbrooks: Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer · Monochrome: Aqua Terra Worldtimer (May 2019) · WatchCharts: Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer (October 2026)

  1. A GMT watch with a two-colour bezel on a wrist beside a laptop

    Illustrative, not this one Redd Francisco, Unsplash

06 · Rolex, Switzerland

Rolex GMT-Master II

Ref. 126710BLNR

Case
40mm, Oystersteel
Water
100m
Movement
3285 automatic, GMT
UK price
£9,850

"a necessary evolution, clearly not a revolution"

Monochrome, March 2019

The original pilot's GMT, and the only watch here worth more second-hand than new: about 45% over US retail on WatchCharts in October 2026. If a retailer offers you one at list price, that is the bargain.

Skip it if you need it for a trip next month. Retailers say availability may be limited.

Where to buy it

Robert Gatward, an official Rolex retailer, lists it at £9,850 including VAT, and says availability of some models may be limited.

Second-hand, WatchCharts estimated $17,145 on 16 October 2026, against US retail of $11,800.

Sources: Robert Gatward: Rolex GMT-Master II M126710BLNR-0003 · Monochrome: GMT-Master II 126710BLNR (March 2019) · WatchCharts: Rolex GMT-Master II 126710BLNR (October 2026)

The price ladder

From £2,900 to £9,850

  1. Longines Zulu Time£2,900true GMT
  2. Tudor BB58 GMT£4,110true GMT
  3. Grand Seiko GMT£6,100GMT
  4. Cartier Santos£7,250no GMT
  5. Omega Worldtimer£9,400worldtimer
  6. Rolex GMT-Master II£9,850GMT

UK retail prices as listed by the named retailers on 18 October 2026.

Second-hand

What they are worth second-hand

US retail against WatchCharts' second-hand estimate, both in US dollars, so new and used are compared like for like. We could not find a reliable second-hand price for the Longines or the Grand Seiko.

WatchUS retailSecond-handDifference
Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT$5,525$4,21524% less
Cartier Santos Medium$8,400$6,69620% less
Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer$11,200$7,02337% less
Rolex GMT-Master II$11,800$17,14545% more

Sources: WatchCharts: Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT (October 2026) · WatchCharts: Cartier Santos Medium (October 2026) · WatchCharts: Omega Aqua Terra Worldtimer (October 2026) · WatchCharts: Rolex GMT-Master II 126710BLNR (October 2026)

Side by side

The six, side by side

LonginesTudorGrand SeikoCartierOmegaRolex
UK price£2,900£4,110£6,100£7,250£9,400£9,850
Second time zoneTrue GMTTrue GMTGMTNoWorldtimerGMT
Case39mm39mm44.2mm35.1mm43mm40mm
Water100m200m200m100m150m100m
Best forFirst GMTMost peopleWatch loversStyleMany zonesHolding value

Questions

Travel watches: what people ask

What is the best travel watch?

For most people, the Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT at £4,110: a true GMT, so the local hour hand jumps on its own when you land, at 39mm and water resistant to 200m. For less, the Longines Spirit Zulu Time does the same job for £2,900.

What is a GMT watch?

A watch with an extra hour hand that goes round once every 24 hours, read against a 24-hour scale, so it shows a second time zone. On a true GMT the local hour hand can be moved on its own, without stopping the watch, which makes it easy to change time zones on arrival.

Can I get the VAT back on a watch bought in the UK?

Not in Great Britain. The government's guidance says the VAT Retail Export Scheme, which let overseas visitors claim VAT back, is no longer available in Great Britain.

Do I pay duty on a watch bought abroad?

If you bring goods worth more than £390 into Great Britain (£270 if you arrive by private plane or boat), you pay tax and duty on the total value, not just the amount over the allowance, according to GOV.UK. A luxury watch will almost always be over the limit.

Is a Rolex GMT-Master II worth more second-hand?

On WatchCharts, yes: about $17,145 second-hand on 16 October 2026, against US retail of $11,800, roughly 45% more. In the UK it lists at £9,850 including VAT, and retailers say availability may be limited.

Sources: GOV.UK: tax-free shopping no longer available in Great Britain · GOV.UK: bringing goods into Great Britain · WatchCharts: Rolex GMT-Master II 126710BLNR (October 2026)

How we chose: watches a UK reader can buy from a UK retailer for under £10,000, most with a second time zone, priced from the retailer's own listing and valued second-hand from WatchCharts. No one paid to be included. Every price and specification links to where we checked it on 18 October 2026. How we choose.

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